Wrapping up Maple Sugaring

I can't think of a better way to spend pre-spring weekends. You know the ones where it's just starting to get nice out, but still a little chilly. We had had quite a nice maple syrup production and made a total of five batches.

How did you spend your March weekends and who wants pancakes?

Creative Tuesday: Kitchen

It's Creative Tuesday and I have to admit I almost bailed on this one.  I'll tell you why in a second... and why I'm glad I didn't.  Wondering what a Creative Tuesday is?  Every two weeks we grab our pads and something to color with to create for the theme over at Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesday's assignment -- neat, no?

This week's theme is Kitchen.  Wait, wha?  Like I should draw my kitchen?  Oh no.  Not good.  What could really be so interesting about a kitchen.  Hmmm.  ...days of thought later....

Funny story ----------  by now you may know... and if you your new in these parts, welcome! and I'll tell you... I have a five month old puppy.  Sammy... Sammy as in Samantha, ...is a golden retriever which is code word for too smart for her own good.  And did I mention that she is getting taller/longer/faster/nosier?

Do you see where this is heading?  Yup, countersurfing.  I think countersurfing is technically defined as a pup taking whatever they want off the counter... whenever they want to.  Oh, big trouble!  Katie, our four and 1/2 year old golden, also went through this very phase.  I thought I was well prepared.  And Sammy has schooled me that I am most certainly not.  And on the very same breath.. how cute is this picture!!

And so, we work on the commands "take it" and "leave it" ... as in take that toy of yours on the ground, and leave that yummy bacon on the counter.  And I am also learning to cook with my new kitchen buddy and it normally ends with me laughing so hard when she ends up with something like flour on her nose.  The whole experience led me down the path to a fun "kitchen scene" that I otherwise wouldn't have thought of... and boy am I glad I did!!

Creative-wise I did things a little differently this time, since Creative Tuesday is all about exploring styles.  I started with card stock paper, doodled the scene in pencil, traced it in pen, and then scanned it to the computer.  Then colored it all in using GIMP -- which is a free software download.  Phew. 

Interesting exercise.  I have so much to learn about digital coloring, if I may use that term, but I loved the experience.  And here is the result! For those of you wondering... this is Sammy in the drawing.  Katie is so tall she can just put her head on the counter without jumping.

I hope you consider joining in this or the next assignment (really hope you do) and please take a look other artists in the community here.   

I'd like to add that Sammy's good cooking will also be linked at Tasty Tuesday where you can share your tastiest things and pawsome recipes!

Straw-pple Sauce!

I think you are beginning to notice that I am enjoying myself more and more in the kitchen.  In fact, after a long day at work, I enjoy getting some time in there to be creative, expressive, and try a few new things.

This week Straw-pple Sauce was born!

It's not a 100% unique idea.  Strawberry-Applesauce has been around for some time. 

Just the same, I like to think that I am breaking new territory, because 1) I haven't made applesauce often, 2) I never used a blender to smooth my sauce, and 3) this is the first time I have added strawberries!

Let's see what craziness unfolded...

I got a nice big pot.

And two types of apples.  Four Granny Smiths and six Fuji's.

My helper was at the ready offering her assistance!

I always joke about this... I am secretly on a show called, "Cooking with Katie."  She is my trusty assistant for things like creative ideas, clean up, and of course tasting!

Since I was making a small batch and since I don't have a Foley mill (fancy thing to remove skin and seeds from a cooked down pulp mixture), I peeled, cored, and chopped all the apples. 

Those pieces went right into the big pot.

Next up... strawberries!!  Same deal here; clean and slice.  I used the whole carton of strawberries.

My helper has a special admiration for strawberries!

"Who me?"

Then the strawberries were added to the big pot and the pot was placed on the stove.

I did add some apple juice and water to the fruit to prevent the bottom from burning and helping the pulp to break down.

A quick stir later and we were in business!

As it bubbled, the kitchen became filled with the autumn smell of apples.  If we could have smell-o-rama blogs, this would definitely be the post I would use it on. 

Can you smell the cooking apples now?

Once I was satisfied that the mixture was cooked through, I transferred it to a mixing bowl.

Then scoop by scoop, I added a batch to the blender and gave it a few whirls to "sauce-a-fy" it!

Once all the mixture had gone through the blender it looked so smooth and yummy!!

This is the part where you season it to your liking.  I decided it was sweet enough, so no sugar was added.  I did add cinnamon and nutmeg.  YUM!

It's funny how more of the red color from the strawberries came out while I re-heated the sauce for canning.

I took this as a chance to practice my canning skills.  This was the first time doing it on my own.  I followed the instructions to re-heat the sauce to boiling and to heat the jars, lids, and rings.

Filling the jars was hot, messy, and nerve-wrecking.  But I got through it. 

A reward for my efforts?  A nice big bowl of Straw-pple sauce that didn't fit in the jars.

My assistant was spent.  Done. Tired.  Zonked.  Wiped.

Although, I bet if I had said the word "apple," she would have jumped up on fresh legs ready to do the whole thing over.

And here we are...

...a fun night spent in the kitchen.
...amazing smells throughout the house.
...a few jars of tasty sauce to brag about and scarf.
...a quieter mind that is much less focused on stresses.
...a happy assistance with a belly full of apples and strawberries.

Have you made something lately that tickled your taste buds?